Andrey Rublev Expresses Desire to Represent Russia at Tokyo Olympics

World No.8 Andrey Rublev enjoyed great success in 2020. Winning a record 41 matches and triumphing with five titles, he will be looking forward to the 2021 season to step up his game and influence some of the bigger tournaments.

Apart from the tournaments that happen every year like Grand Slams and Masters 1000, 2021 will have the Olympics as well. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was scheduled to happen this year but due to the pandemic, it was postponed to 2021.

So recently, in an interview with Sports24, Rublev showed his eagerness in representing and winning for his country at the Olympics. It is a special tournament for the Russian.

“I would like to play at the Olympics, to represent my country. This tournament is every four years, it is special anyway.”

Andrey Rublev on Olympics and Grand Slams

He wants an all-round 2021 with a good showing at the Olympics as well as the Grand Slams.

“Just to be there, to play is already unreal emotions, this is very important. In Tokyo, I want to play as completely great as in the Grand Slam tournaments. And time will tell where it will turn out. The main thing is to come out with the thought, ‘I did everything I could, not to find fault with myself.'”

Rublev has represented Russia at the youth Olympics in 2014. It was a stellar tournament for him. Rublev won two medals, one in singles and one in doubles. Partnering with Karen Khachanov, Rublev won a silver medal in doubles, and then he won a bronze in singles as well.

Rublev’s desire to win something big is very high. Even though he won the five titles this year, he said that he would any day swap his titles with those his compatriot Daniil Medvedev won this year.

Medvedev had an unbeaten run as he ended the season with consecutive titles at Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.

“In terms of victories, Djokovic and I finished the same way. But I would rather choose indicators like Dani’s – to win the Masters in Bercy and the Final. Or even just the Final.”

Will Rublev shake up the Grand Slam hierarchy next season?